Salt Lake City to Host 2019 American Classic and Hopes Classic

2018 World Cup all-around bronze-medalist Jordan Chiles of Vancouver, Wash./World Champions Centre, along with her senior national teammates Sloane Blakely of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, the 2019 Gymnix International balance beam silver medalist, and Sunisa Lee of St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, the 2019 Jesolo Trophy all-around champion, are among the 106 women who are expected to compete in the 2019 American Classic and Hopes Classic. Tickets are on sale for both events, which will be held at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on June 21-22.

Two members of the U.S. Junior National Team are also expected to compete:  Ciena Alipio of San Jose, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, who claimed the balance beam silver at the 2019 Jesolo Trophy; and Skye Blakely of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, the junior vault and uneven bars champion at the 2019 Gymnix International, as well as last year’s junior all-around bronze medalist at the 2018 American Classic.  Also in the field is senior Shania Adams of Plain City, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, who was the all-around silver medalist at last year’s American Classic.

The two competitions are qualifiers for women’s gymnastics: the American Classic for the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in August; and the Hopes Classic for the Hopes Championships, held in conjunction with the U.S. Classic in July in Louisville, Ky.

Each competition has two sessions, and the schedule, which is subject to change, is below.  Tickets are on sale now. Multi-day passes, which include every session of both the Hopes Classic and the American Classic, range in price from $15-$25. Single-day tickets for either day range from $10-$20 and include both sessions for that day. Ticket prices vary according to seat locations. To purchase tickets, visit utahtickets.com or call 801-581-UTIX.

• June 21 | Hopes Classic

3 p.m. – Ages 10-11

6:30 p.m. – Ages 12-13

• June 22 | American Classic

11 a.m. – Juniors

4 p.m. – Seniors

Women’s gymnastics has several ways athletes can qualify to the U.S. Championships, including by earning a minimum of 52.000 for seniors or a 51.000 for juniors in the all-around at either the American Classic or GK U.S. Classic. The GK U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 20 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., is the final opportunity for women to advance to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Senior athletes can also qualify by earning a three-event score of 39.750 or a two-event score of 27.000 at either of these two events. 

The Hopes classification is just below the elite level, and the top 18 athletes in both Hopes age groups (10-11 and 12-13-years old) who achieve the qualification score advance to the Hopes Championships. The Hopes Championships is the culmination of the Hopes season and scheduled for July 19.

Team members and alternates from the 2018 U.S. World Championships Team automatically qualified to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. In addition to the U.S. and American Classics, national team members can earn a berth to the U.S. Championships by achieving the qualification score at a national team verification or international assignment. 

Background information

• Jon M. Hunstman Center. The Jon M. Huntsman Arena on the University of Utah campus is one of Salt Lake City’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Home of the university’s Runnin’ Utes basketball team, as well as the Red Rocks women’s gymnastics team, the venue has hosted a number of different sporting events, concerts, commencement exercises and other special events. The venue hosted the 1979 NCAA Final Four Tournament and the 1989 Western Athletic Conference. It is the largest arena in the Pac-12 conference system and in 2019, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
• USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.

2019 American Classic field

Athletes are alphabetical by state; indicates hometown/club and competition level.

California

Chavala Shepard, Bentonville, Ark./Hopes and Dreams Gymnastics, junior

Ciena Alipio, San Jose, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, junior

Ellorie Cane, Upland, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Chloe Cho, Canyon Country, Calif./Wallers GymJam Academy, Hopes/12-13

Kaitlyn Cohen, Glendale, Calif./The Klub Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Carsyn Coleman, Anaheim Hills, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Ryan Fuller, Knightsen, Calif./Head Over Heels, Hopes/12-13

Mia Heather, San Francisco, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, junior

Bronwyn Hoffman, Los Angeles, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Woodland Hills, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, junior

Emily Lee, Los Gatos, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, senior

Nola Matthews, Gilroy, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, junior

Rafaela O'Neill, San Jose, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, Hopes/12-13

Sophie Parenti, Menlo Park, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, junior

Autumn Reingold, North Hills, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica USA, Hopes/12-13

Ava San Jose, Northridge, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Jolyn Sicat Valeros, Chino Hills, Calif./Sokol Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Paloma Spiridonova, Torrance, Calif./WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Tiana Sumanasekera, Pleasanton, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Paityn Walker, Hercules, Calif./Head Over Heels, Hopes/12-13

Eleanor Wyly, Fairfield, Calif./North Bay Athletic Association Inc., Hopes/12-13

Colorado

Jordis Eichman, Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Aerials Gymnastics Center, Hopes/12-13

Cambry Haynes, Evergreen, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Delaware

Love Birt, Camden, Del./First State Gymnastics, junior

Florida

Charlotte Booth, Clermont, Fla./Brandy Johnson's Global Gymnastics, junior

Emerson Fisk, Valrico, Fla./Golden City Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Emily Golden, Sarasota, Fla./EVO Gymnastics, junior

Maddie Losee, Bradenton, Fla./World Champions Centre, Hopes/10-11

Khloe Timmer, Cutlery Bay, Fla./Leyva Gymnastics Academy, Hopes/10-11

Mya Witte, Greenacres, Fla./Genie's Gymnastics, junior

Kaela Yee, Miami, Fla./Leyva Gymnastics Academy, Hopes/12-13

Illinois

Tori Kitzmiller, Winfield, Ill./Naperville Gymnastics Club, Hopes/10-11

Avery Schlichting, Loves Park, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, Hopes/10-11

Indiana

Elizabeth Gantner, Indianapolis, Ind./Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center, junior

Iowa

Nora Brewer, Iowa City, Iowa/IGN, Hopes/10-11

Ly Bui, Swisher, Iowa/IGN, Hopes/10-11

Louisiana

Ella Parker, West Monroe, La./North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Maryland

Karleigh DiCello, Boyds, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Sydney Morris, Bowie, Md./First State Gymnastics, junior

Anya Pilgrim, Germantown, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, junior

Azaraya Ra-Akbar, Baltimore, Md./United Gymnastix, Hopes/12-13

Kimberly Shiau, Rockville, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Audrey Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Sydney Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Massachusetts

Hailey Kriz, Westborough, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Minnesota

Sunisa Lee, St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, senior

Lily Pederson, White Bear Lake, Minn./Flips Gymnastics LLC, Hopes/12-13

Lyden Saltness, Forest Lake, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, junior

Grace Weisser, Maplewood, Minn./Flips Gymnastics LLC, Hopes/10-11

Ella Zirbes, Stillwater, Minn./Flips Gymnastics LLC, junior

Nevada

Kailin Chio, Henderson, Nev./Gymcats Gymnastics, junior

Sienna Robinson, Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics Las Vegas, junior

New Jersey

Giovannina Beltra, Monroe Twp, N.J./Rebound Gymnastics Inc., Hopes/10-11

Kylee Bromley, Runnemede, N.J./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

eMjae Frazier, Erial, N.J./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, junior

Ariel Posen, Manalapan, N.J./MG Elite, junior

New York

Annalise Newman-Achee, Brooklyn, N.Y./Chelsea Piers Gymnastics, junior

North Carolina

Lauren Little, Mooresville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, junior

Autumn Miller, Gatesville, N.C./Coastal Point Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Ohio

Shania Adams, Plain City, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, senior

Izzy Stassi, North Royalton, Ohio/Five-Star Gymnastics Academy of Ohio, Hopes/10-11

Gabriella Van Frayen, Lewis Center, Ohio/Gym X-Treme, Hopes/12-13

Carly Weinberg, Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Ava Wellmeier, Zanesville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Pennsylvania

Nicole Desmond, Wind Gap, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, Hopes/10-11

Sophee El-Attar, Landenberg, Pa./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Addison Fatta, Wrightsville, Pa./Prestige Gymnastics, junior

Natalie Gatlos, Lincoln University, Pa./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Lucy Tobia, Schnecksville, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, Hopes/12-13

Tennessee

Olivia Ahern, Memphis, Tenn./River City Gymnastics Inc., junior

Texas

Skye Blakely, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior

Sloane Blakely, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, senior

Sophia Butler, Houston, Texas/Discover Gymnastics Inc., junior

Karis German, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, junior

Jaylene Gilstrap, McKinney, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, senior

Olivia Hollingsworth, Seabrook, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior

Madray Johnson, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Katelyn Jong, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Kaitlynd Kastl, Forney, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Avery King, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Zoe Miller, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, junior

Zoey Molomo, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11

Ella Murphy, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Victoria Nguyen, Sugar Land, Texas/Everest Gymnastics, senior

Michelle Pineda, Dallas, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Jaylyn Pomager, Schertz, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Joscelyn Roberson, Texarkana, Texas/North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, junior

Katelyn Rosen, Boerne, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics, junior

Rebekah Smith, Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre, Hopes/12-13

Ashlee Sullivan, Richardson, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Shanell Valles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, Hopes/10-11

Abigael Vides, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior

Eva Volpe, Pearland, Texas/Pearland Elite, junior

Brooklyn Webster, Arlington, Texas/Empire Gymnastics Academy, Hopes/10-11

Utah

Ava Jackson, Riverton, Utah/Olympus Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13

Virginia

Sophia Dennis, Burke, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes/12-13

Leah Fontaine, Falls Church, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes/12-13

Jamison Sears, Yorktown, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Ava Siegfeldt, Hampton, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Raquel Simmons, Fredericksburg, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes/12-13

Jamie Wright, Toano, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Washington

Hailey Avellar, Seattle, Wash./Auburn Gymnastics Center Inc., Hopes/10-11

Jordan Chiles, Vancouver, Wash./World Champions Centre, senior

Isabelle Futch, Orting, Wash./Auburn Gymnastics Center Inc., Hopes/12-13

Sammy Smith, Fall City, Wash./Gymnastics East, Hopes/12-13